[11/18/05 - 12:00 AM]Hit Abc/Touchstone Series "Lost" Spins Off Original Mini-Episodes for Mobile and DVD Distribution

[via press release from ABC]

HIT ABC/TOUCHSTONE SERIES �LOST� SPINS OFF ORIGINAL MINI-EPISODES FOR MOBILE AND DVD DISTRIBUTION

�Lost Video Diaries� Set for Verizon Wireless Premiere in January

The ABC Television Network and Touchstone Television have partnered with Buena Vista Home Entertainment to create �Lost Video Diaries,� an extension of the Emmy Award-winning series �Lost,� designed especially for mobile and DVD distribution platforms. The deal was announced today by Bruce Gersh, senior vice president, Business Development, ABC Entertainment & Touchstone Television. The �Lost Video Diaries� is slated to premiere exclusively on the Verizon Wireless V CAST service in January.

Produced by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, �Lost Video Diaries� is based on an original concept by �Lost� co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof, and by Carlton Cuse, also an executive producer of the series. The original live-action content will consist of a minimum of 22 two-minute episodes. Featuring characters who were on Oceanic Flight 815 but whose storylines have not been seen on �Lost,� �Lost Video Diaries� will chronicle compelling tales from the island inspired by events taking place on the broadcast series.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment will also distribute the content as part of the �Lost� Season Two DVD boxed set, which will be the exclusive home to at least six of the episodes.

In making the announcement Gersh said: �We think that the �Lost Video Diaries� are groundbreaking both in terms of the way they were conceived and the way they will be written and produced. Given the fervor fans have for this show, we�re confident that the Diaries will fuel their enthusiasm and provide them with another avenue to access �Lost� - new stories, new distribution. It�s a great extension of one of televisions most respected brands.�

�Lost� co-creator/executive producer Lindelof added: �Viewers always ask us, �What�s going on with the people in the background? Don�t they have stories too?� Well, the answer is yes� and now we�ve got the perfect format in which to tell those stories.�

�This is a perfect example of ABC, Touchstone Television and Buena Vista Home Entertainment working together to create original �Lost� content,� said Gordon Ho, executive vice president, Brand Marketing and Business Development, Buena Vista Home Entertainment. �We�re especially excited that DVD fans will enjoy the final episodes of these �Lost Video Diaries� exclusively on the Season Two DVD release.�

Verizon Wireless VP-Marketing Bill Stone said: �We are pleased to be premiering this great made-for-mobile content, and know �Lost� fans from coast to coast will tune into V CAST every week to extend their television experience. V CAST subscribers can learn the inside story wherever they are. We expect the �Lost Video Diaries� content to be a huge hit.�

Dawn Kelly and Matt Ragghianti are writing the episodes, and �Lost� producer Javier Grillo Marxauch will serve as an executive consultant on the project. Casting is set to begin this month and production will begin in December in Hawaii.

�Lost,� which counts among its six Emmy Awards one for Outstanding Drama Series, was co-created by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, who also serve as executive producers, along with Bryan Burk, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse. The series, which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii, is produced by Touchstone Television and is broadcast on the ABC Television Network.

V CAST from Verizon Wireless is the first true wireless broadband consumer multimedia service in the country, allowing customers to view crystal clear video clips on demand. V CAST programming includes content from trusted news sources, the greatest sports and a huge variety of entertainment programs. V CAST runs on Verizon Wireless� Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network - the largest high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. The V CAST coverage area, which mirrors the Verizon Wireless EV-DO network, is available to more than 140 million Americans in 171 major metropolitan markets and is expanding coast to coast.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., is a recognized industry leader. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Miramax, Dimension and Buena Vista videocassettes and DVDs.